Picture frame device



F eb'. 29, 1944.

H. LATHROP 2,343,193

PICTURE FRAME DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1942 a INVENTOR Harvey Lazflzro a M ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATEE E ATENT OFFICE PICTURE FRAME DEVKJE Harvey Lathrop, Forest Hills, Long Island, N. Y.

Application December 5, 1942, Serial No. 467,928

4 Claims. ,(Cl. 49-452) My present invention relates generally to picture frames, and has particular reference to a picture-frame device having certain unique features of compactness and portability.

The invention afiords an attractive and practical means for enabling any person to carry with him a photograph, identification card, or similar item, and it is contemplated that the present device will be of particular usefulness for men in the armed forces.

A general object of. my invention is to provide an attractive article in the nature of a picture frame which may be stood on a table or the like in a self-supporting manner, and which may be,

when desired, associated with a conventional Briefly, the present device consists essentially of a series of rectangular panels arranged side by side and hingedly connected so that the device may be stood up in self-supporting manner by setting the panels into angularly disposed vertical planes, at least one of the panels being provided on its inner face with a frame-like receiving means for a photograph, identification card, or other item or memento of similar type. In accordance with myinvention, the panels are of such dimensions that when the device is to be folded up and carried away these panels may be positioned face down against corresponding sides of a conventional cigarette package, means being provided to retain the entire series in wrappedaround relationship to the package, thereby concealing the inner faces of the panels and also protectively enveloping the cigarette package.

My invention also provides a means whereby accidental displacement of the cigarette package is prevented and whereby the upper or openable end of the cigarette package may be efficiently covered and uncovered, as may be desired, all without disturbing the general envelopment of the cigarette package, or disclosing the true nature of the device as a holder for a photograph or similar memento.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the present device in the folded position it assumes when in association with a conventional cigarette package;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the manner in which access may be had to theupperend of the cigarette package;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the device as it appears when standing up in self-supporting manner to function in its true capacity as a picture-frame device; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the preferred embodiment herein chosen for illustration an elongated blank of suitable sheet material, such as leather, is divided by parallel hinge lines l0, H, l2 and I3 intoa corresponding series of hingedly connected panels or sections. These hinge lines may be provided by suitably scoring the material, or in any other convenient or desired manner.

At least one of the panels is provided on its inner face with a frame-like receiving means for a photograph or the like. I have illustratively shown each of the two larger panels l4 and i5 provided with a receiving means of this kind. As shown by way of illustration in Figure 5, the desired result may be accomplished by stitching or otherwise fastening to certain marginal portions of the panel M a frame-like strip or element it, it being understood that this element is left unattached along at least one edge so that a fiat element, such as a photograph H or the like, may be slipped into position between the element l6 and the panel M, the photograph I 7 being held in position, in well-known fashion, by the retaining effect of the element I6 upon the edges of the photograph. If desired, the frame-like receiving means 16 may include a transparent window which will cover and protect the photograph I! while still leaving it visible, but the use of such a transparent element is not essential.

A similar frame-like receiving means I8 is shown associated in like manner with the panel Hi,

The panels I4 and I5 are of equal size. Hingedly connecting them is an intermediate conmeeting panel Hi. This series of panels is; purposely caused to embody such dimensions: that each of the larger panels l4 and I5 may be positioned face down against the opposite larger sides of a conventional cigarette package 2b, the intermediate panel 19 overlying one of the narrower sides of such package. The extension 2!, hingedly connected at l3 to the panel M, and the extension 22, hingedly connected at H) to the panel iii, are illustrative of a suitable means arranged at the opposite lateral ends of the panel series for separably connecting these ends so as to retain the entire series in wrapped-around relationship to the cigarette package as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the extensions 2| and 22 are so dimensioned that they may be brought into overlapping relationship when the device is adjusted into the enveloping relationship to the cigarette package 20, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, and a suitable means is provided, such as the separable fasteners 23, for retaining the extensions 2| and 22 in the desired overlapping condition.

In order to prevent any accidental endwise displacement of the cigarette package 20, I provide a projecting part 24 on the lower edge of the panel 15, and a corresponding projecting part 25 on the lower edge of the panel I l. These parts may consist of suitable strips of leather, stitched or adhesively secured in permanent association with the device, or any other convenient and equivalent projecting parts may be provided for on either one or more of the panels. When the device illustrated is wrapped-around the cigarette package, the part 24 and 25 are caused to approach each other and conjointly serve as an abutment for the lower or rear end of the cigarette package 20, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

Secured to the upper edge of the panel M is a flap 26 adapted to serve as a cover for the cigarette package. By means of a hinge line 21, this flap is divided into two sections, the section 28 being rectangular and adapted to overlie the upper end of the cigarette package, the section 29 being somewhat narrower and serving as a convenient means for holding the flap :26 in closed condition. To accomplish this result, I prefer to arrange a strip 30 upon the outer face of the panel I5 so that the section 29 may be tucked beneath this strip, as shown in Figure 1, or may be withdrawn therefrom as indicated in Figure 2. Any other equivalent means for releasably engaging the flap 26 may be provided.

While I have illustratively shown an arrangement whereby each of the two larger panels l4 and I5 is provided with means for enabling it to serve as a separate picture, frame, it will readily be understood that the device may be modified. as desired, so that only one of these panels is of such picture-holding character. Similarly, it may under certain circumstances be desirable to construct one or more of the narrower panels as a picture frame, to accommodate a narrower photograph, an identification card, or the like.

Moreover, while I have illustratively shown the securing means 23 in association with two sections 2| and 22 which overlie one of the narrower sides of the cigarette package, it will be understood that any convenient means may be provided for accomplishing this result, and that such holding means may be arranged to lie over one of the larger faces of the cigarette package, if desired.

Regardless of how and where the connecting means is provided and regardless of whether there is one or more panel serving as a picture frame, it will be observed that the device has certain unique capabilities. It may be set up on a table or similar support as indicated in Figure 4, quite independent of any extraneous prop. This self-supporting condition is achieved by merely setting the panels into angularly disposed vertical planes, as is customary in connection with picture frames generally. When it is desired to transport the device, it may be conveniently wrapped around a conventional cigarette package as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, and in this way the true nature of the device is completely concealed. At the same time, a convenient and attractive protective covering is afforded for the cigarette package itself, and the resultant structure is capable of use without disturbing the complete concealment of such photograph or other item or items as may be accommodated within the frame-like portion or portions of the device.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make changes in the details herein described and illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a picture-frame device of the character described, a series of at least four rectangular panels arranged side by side and hingedly connected so that the device may be stood up in selfsupporting manner by setting the panels into angularly disposed vertical planes, at least one of said panels being provided on its inner face with a frame-like receiving means for a photograph or the like, said panels being of such dimensions that the last-mentioned panel may be positioned face down against one of the sides of a conventional cigarette package while the other panels overlie corresponding other sides of said package, means at the opposite lateral ends of said panel series for separably connecting said ends to retain the entire series in wrapped-around relationship to the cigarette package thereby concealing the inner faces of said panels and also protectively enveloping the cigarette package, and means carried by the device and adapted to engage the lower end of the cigarette package when the device is wrapped around the latter, so as to prevent endwise dislocation of said enveloped package, said last-named means comprising a projecting part carried by the lower edge of at least one of said panels.

2. In a picture-frame device of the character described, a series of at least four rectangular panels arranged side by side and hingedly connected so that the device may be stood up in selfsupporting manner by setting the panels into angularly disposed vertical planes, at least one of said panels being provided on its inner face with a frame-like receiving means for a photograph or the like, said panels being of such dimensions that the last-mentioned panel may be positioned face down against one of the sides of a conventional cigarette package while the other panels overlie corresponding other sides of said package, means at the opposite lateral ends of said panel series for separably connecting said ends to retain the entire series in wrapped-around relationship to the cigarette package thereby concealing the inner faces of said panels and also protectively enveloping the cigarette package, and means carried by the device and adapted to engage the lower end of the cigarette package when the device is wrapped around the latter, so as to prevent endwise dislocation of said enveloped package, said last-named means comprising projecting parts carried by the lower edges of certain of said panels and adapted conjointly to define an end abutment for said package.

3. In a picture-frame device of the character described, a series of at least four rectangular panels arranged side by side and hingedly connected so that the device may be stood up in selfsupporting manner by setting the panels into angularly disposed vertical planes, at least one of said panels being provided on its inner face with a frame-like receiving means for a photograph or the like, said panels being of such dimensions that the last-mentioned panel may be positioned face down against one of the sides of a conventional cigarette package while the other panels overlie corresponding other sides of said package, means at the opposite lateral ends of said panel series for separably connecting said ends to retain the entire series in wrapped-around relationship to the cigarette package thereby concealing the inner faces of said panels and also protectively enveloping the cigarette package, and means carried at the lower edge of at least one of said panels for engaging the lower end of the cigarette package when the device is wrapped around the latter, a hinged flap carried at the upper edge of one of said panels and adapted to serve as a protective cover for the upper end of the cigarette package, and means on the outer face of one of said panels for releasably engaging the free end of said flap.

4. A picture-frame device comprising two rectangular panels of equal size and an intermediate panel of narrower width, said panels being hingedly connected so that the device may be stood up in self-supporting manner by setting the panels into angularly disposed vertical planes, at least one of the larger panels being provided on its inner f ace with a frame-like receiving means for a photograph or the like, said panels being of such dimensions that the larger two may be positioned face down against the opposite larger sides of a conventional cigarette package while the intermediate panel overlies one of the narrower sides of such package, and means adapted to extend across the other narrower side of the cigarette package for separably connecting the larger panels to retain the entire device in wrapped-around relationship to the cigarette package thereby concealing the inner faces of said panels and also protectively enclosing the cigarette package, the lower edges of said larger panels being provided with projecting parts which approach each other when the cigarette package is enveloped, thereby affording an abutment for the lower end of said package.

HARVEY LA'II-IROP. 

